Fluid clutch.



No. ss|,`o`o|. Patented 001.30, |900. .1. T. Byrnes.

FLUID CLUCH. (Appnwm maa nw.' 99. 1999.

(No Model.)

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` To all wiz/m it may concern:

UNITED STATES "l PATENT FFICE.

JAMES T. RYTHER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTSa vFLUID CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,001, dated October 30, 1900. Appnomon fue@ December ce, i999'. seria No. 741,953. m0 man.)

Be it known that I, JAMES vT. RYTHER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex, State of Massachu-v setts, have invented a certain newiand useful Improvement in Fluid Clutch Mechanism, of which the following is a speciiication, ref erence being had therein to the accompanying drawings. A

My invention has for its object to provide a simple, durable, and efficient device by means of which a pulley, wheel, or thelike may be rendered fast or loose on a shaft or may be caused to rotate at any degree of speed relatively to and less than the speed of rotation of the shaft. y A device embodying my invention is fully set forth in the following description, taken'l in connection with the accompanying draw-1 ings, and the novel features of my invention. are pointed out and clearly dened in the claim at the close of ithis specification.

Having reference to the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section transversely of a pulley and shaft having an embodiment of my invention applied thereto, said section being on line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a lengthwise section thereof on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3V shows a modification hereinafter referred to. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

2 designates a shaft or portion thereof, and 3 a pulley having a hub 4, which is journaled on said shaft. A collar 5 is secured on said shaft by means of a set-screw 6, said collar serving to hold the pulley in position on said shaft 2, adjacent the shoulder 21, (see Fig. 2,) and thereby prevent displacement ofv the pulley 3. A recess 7 is formed in the face of the pulley, said recess being eccentric relatively to the axis thereof, as shown. The shaft 2 at that portion thereof which is within the recess 7 is provided with two or more radial projections 8. Four said projections are shown in the drawings, and I prefer that number. The said projections are preferably tubular, the interior spaces thereof forming cylinders or chambers to receive the cylindrical pistons or plungers 9. The shaft 2 is provided with a recess or cavity 10, extending lengthwise thereof, and the cylinders or chambers of the hollow radial projections 8 open at their inner ends into said recess or cavity 10. Each of the pistons or 'plungers 9 is suitably packed at its inner end 4at 11, so that iiuid which is contained within the hollow projections and cavity cannot escape past the pistons or plungers. The recess or chamber 10, which extends lengthwise ofthe shaft 2, is preferably circular in crosssection-and is fitted with a plunger or valve v12, which is cylindrical and of suicient length to extend completely across and thus close the openings by which the `inner portions ofthe radial cylinders or chambers communicate with the recess or cavity 10. The said plunger or valve 12 is also suitably packed and is provided with a valve-stein 13, which projects outside the said opening l0 to permit the ready operation of said valve. A second plunger or disk 14, which is also suitably packed to prevent the escape of fluid, is secured on the stem 13 at such a distance from the plunger or valve 12 as that when the latter is in its inlnost position (shown in Fig. ,2) the disk 14 will be on the opposite side of the openings which lead from the recess 10 to the hollow spaces behind the pis'- tons or plungers 9 in lthe radial arms 8, as shown in Fig. 2. When the parts are in this latter position, it will b e clear that there is an open space between the plungers 14 and 12, which opens into the space behind each of the pistons or plungers 9, so that the contained fluid may move freely through the spaces between the said plungers 12 and 14 and into and out of the spaces behind the pistons or plungers 9.

I provide for introducing the duid an opening (not shown) in one of the radial arms, which opening should be provided with means for securely closing the same. As the shaft 2 revolves, carrying with it the pistons or plungers 9, which are located within the eccentric recess 7, the fluid may move freely behind the said pistons or plungers 9, and as the said pistons or plungers, respectively, are forced inwardly toward the axis of the shaft by contact of their outer ends with the wall of the eccentric recess7 the oppositely-placed ones will be forced outward correspondingly by the pressure of the fluid behind them. If now the valve-stem 13 be moved outwardly in the recess 10, causing the plunger 12 to close that portion of the recess 10 which is connected with each of the hollow spaces behind the pistons or plungers, it will be clear that the fiuid behind that one of the plungers 9 which is in the outermost positionthat is, farthest away from the axis of the shaft-cannot escape, as that plunger moves around the shaft and will prevent the said piston or plunger from being forced inwardly lby contact of its outer end with the wall of the eccentric recess 7. As the said plunger cannot be forced backwardly or inwardly toward the axis of the shaft, the rotation of the shaft relatively to the pulley 13 will be stopped-that is, the pulley and shaft will be forced to revolve together.V It will be clear, therefore, that by simply moving the stem, so as by means of the plunger or valve l2 to close the central opening in the recess l0 behind ea'ch of the radial chambers, the device may be made to operate as a clutch to lock the pulley fast on the shaft. If the said opening, however, be not wholly closed, but only partially, the movement of the Huid behind the pistons or plungers 9 will be retarded, and the shaftwill be permitted to move relatively to the pulley at a speed proportionate to the degree of retardation of the iiuid. In this way the speed of the pulley or of the shaft relatively to each other may be varied quickly and effectively. I have shown the best forms of my device now known to me, but do not desire to limit myself to any precise details of construction.

The device may be used as a clutch mechanism in connection with shafting or machinery of Various kinds, and also as a speed-varying device not only for shafting and pulleys in connection with machinery, but also for automobiles, or in any machine where it is desirable without varying the speed of the driver to vary at will the speed of the driven.

As will be clear, either the pulley or the shaft may be the driving 0r driven member. I do not desire to limit my invention to the radial arrangement of the projections or cylinders 8, as the same may be arranged tangentially, if desired.

In the modification shown, Figs. 3 and 4, the pistons or plungers 9 instead of having the ends thereof in contact with the wall of the eccentric recess 7 are each provided with a friction-roll 20, the rolls 2O 'serving to decrease the wear between the plunger-s and the wall of the said eccentric recess. This construction I deem preferable, especially when the device is used as a means of varying relatively the speeds of the shaft and pulley.

I claim as my invention- The improved device comprising the interior member provided with a plurality of radial chambers having central communication with one another, pistons in said chambers, the exterior member having an eccentricallydisposed Wall acting upon the said pistons, and the centrally-located valve comprisingessentially the cylindrical plunger l2 and the plunger or disk 14 separated from each other as set forth whereby the movement of the fluid may be controlled as desired, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES T. RYTHER.

Witnesses:

WM. A. MAoLEoD, CHAs. F. RANDALL. 

